“I Still Can’t Believe That My Favourite Photo Has My Mum-Tum On Show.”

What is your name and age? Tell us a bit about yourself!  

Hi, my name is Tracey. I’m 42 years old and a single mother to a 7 year old daughter. I’m settled in my own home with a new partner. No pets just yet!

Can you tell us, why did you decide to book your Divine Divas Experience?  

I joined the Facebook Group a while ago after hearing about Boudoir experiences and looking them up. It was really nice to find one based in Bath that was both professional and all about body confidence. I followed the group got a while and then won an experience for International Women’s Day. I couldn’t back out at that stage! I would have booked one sooner or later though, as it was something I really wanted to do.

Obviously, we have quite in depth phone calls with you before your experience. Do you feel that it was an important part of the photography experience?

I loved my discovery calls. I was buzzing after the first one as talking to Kate made me feel powerful and amazing. That call carried me through two weeks on a high until the next one, and helped me get through a tough assessment for work; just remembering the conversation made me feel powerful and confident. It was a really good start to the whole thing, and super important to make me feel amazing leading up to the day.

Having a professional makeup artist work with you on the day, do you think this added to the experience and what did it do for your confidence coming in to the shoot?

I don’t wear make-up usually, so without an artist on hand to do it for me I would have probably gone bare-faced and the photos wouldn’t have been anywhere near as professional looking! Plus, there’s a certain style to doing make-up for photos that is different from every day wear, so this really helped to make me feel special too. And the use of false eyelashes (which I had never worn before) was movie-star special.

A lot of women feel self conscious about having a boudoir experience - knowing what you know now, what would you say to any woman feeling a little self conscious about herself and treating herself to this experience?  

We all feel self-conscious. Some days I like my body and some days, I don’t! Some days I like parts of my body and some days, I can’t stand others. But the experience is a safe space to explore every facet of yourself that you reflect upon whilst alone in bed at night - no judgement and all empowerment. And it’s a treat - something just for you. You don’t need to tell anyone about it if you don’t want to, or (like me) you can be loud and proud about it, even whilst feeling self-conscious.

What was it like actually being photographed? How did you find the photoshoot itself? Did this experience bring out a side of yourself? Did it help reconnect or celebrate any side of yourself?

I loved being photographed. Jesse told me exactly how to pose so I didn’t have to figure it out, and he made me laugh at times as well, resulting in some really great natural moments.

I used to be a goth, and trained as a pole dancer for a time, so it didn’t bring out anything new for me but it allowed me to fully explore that darker, slightly riskier side of myself. And playing with chains (which were provided by the studio) and my own body jewellery was some of the most fun I have had in a long time!

Tell us - what was the moment you saw your photos for the first time like?  

Very odd. Seeing myself on screen and not quite recognising me, but also knowing it was me. It was like an out of body experience in a way. I loved the photos, and the one that has stuck with me afterwards in my head is one where my mum-tum is fully on show - and that’s the main issue I have with my body, so to see that photo and think how incredible I looked was amazing.

Confidence is a big thing - in fact it is everything. How has Boudoir elevated who you are in different areas of your life - for example has this confidence affected your relationship or your career?

Being loud and proud about going for a Boudoir shoot I was already fairly confident, but this has helped me to celebrate my body in a deeper way than I expected. I’m sure that confidence has come through in both my relationship and career.

What stood out for you about the experience? Did anything surprise you?

How much I enjoyed it and how I let myself fully immerse myself into the experience. Everyone was really welcoming and warm, and Jesse made me feel incredible when he was taking the photos! I think that was the most surprising thing - just how much I enjoyed it.

Obviously we know we’re an investment, but we believe that celebrating yourself is totally an investment worthwhile. Was it money well spent for you?

Definitely. I have to wait about a month to get my hands on my album and wall art, and that’s a month too long! I can’t wait to see my photos again.

In years to come, when you look at your artwork, see the woman in your art staring back at yourself, what do you know you will feel?

Immense pride in myself for doing something most people probably consider a bit on the risky and naughty side! And an absolute enjoyment in how strong and confident I look in the photos - reminding myself that I can do anything I want to.  

Give us your best top tip for any future Divas! 

Go with your gut feeling - you don’t want to regret anything about the experience! Think about what you have always wanted to wear (I took crotchless knickers) and take it. The experience is so liberating. Have fun!

Do you have anything else you’d love to add? Anything you feel that will help inspire other women to enjoy feeling confident in who they are?

 The one thing I would add is that women should bask in the awesomeness that is them. Their bodies have done so much (kids, running, breathing, getting well after illness) that this is what they need to celebrate. The human body is an amazing bit of engineering, and that shouldn’t be forgotten, no matter how it looks or feels some days. It needs to be celebrated in all it’s glory, for everything it can do, and everything it will do. And women don’t take enough time to remember to celebrate themselves, and each other.